Wrapping Up Month of ‘Emergencies’, Security Council Urged to Strengthen Conflict-Prevention Mechanisms

Wrapping Up Month of ‘Emergencies’, Security Council

Urged to Strengthen Conflict-Prevention Mechanisms

During a month in which the Security Council was seized with multiple urgent crises, it was, at the same time, critical to strengthen the body’s conflict-prevention activities, the Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom, President for August, said in a monthly wrap-up meeting.

Thanking members for their work in what he called a very busy month, Mark Lyall Grant recalled the simultaneous crises in Gaza, Iraq, Syria, Libya, South Sudan, Ukraine and elsewhere. However, he stressed that the Council’s visiting mission to several countries in both Europe and Africa, during which Council members commemorated the First World War and met with displaced persons in South Sudan, was also important to undertake, as it sparked consideration of the need to prevent devastating conflict.

The visiting mission, he noted, was followed up by an open debate that discussed ways in which the Council could improve its record in conflict prevention. The meeting produced a resolution that affirmed the importance of that endeavour. It was apparent, in a month filled with emergencies, that freeing up time to analyze and act on signs of potential crises was of the essence. This month, thirteen issues had been raised under the consideration of “Other issues,” which he noted as a good start.

Starting meetings on time and keeping statements within time limits were shown to be of help in providing the time needed for such considerations, he went on to say. Other efficiencies in that manner, such as desisting from repetitive statements, could be easily tried. He voiced hope that the effort to provide more opportunities for horizon-scanning and other preventive activities would continue.

Following the President’s statement, Council members took the floor, with most expressing appreciation for the visiting mission and the open debate on conflict prevention, concurring that the latter should remain a priority for the Council, along with post-conflict peacebuilding to prevent countries from relapsing back into violence.

Many also recalled the activities in regard to the multiple crises that Mr. Grant had mentioned. In addition, Gombo Tchouli (Chad) expressed hope that the next presidency could accelerate the deployment of the new peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic. Others underlined activity in regard to chemical weapons in Syria.

Council members welcomed in particular the body’s actions in adopting resolution 2170 (2014) on the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), resolution 2173 (2014) on extending and adjusting the mandate of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), the presidential statement on the Sahel and resolution 2174 (2014) on the relevance of the Libyan sanctions regime in the context of the resurgent conflict there.

Béatrice Le Fraper du Hellen (France) expressed appreciation for the unity of the Council on many of those actions, although she maintained that continued divisiveness on Syria and Ukraine hampered progress in those situations.

Vitaly Churkin (Russian Federation) expressed regret that the Council had not met its responsibilities on the matter of the Ukraine, particularly in relationship to the downed Malaysian airliner, saying that resolutions his delegation had submitted had been blocked. He also criticized the lack of adequate action on Gaza.

Efficiencies, including the limitation of statements to five minutes, met with approval by those representatives who addressed that matter. Eihab Omaish (Jordan) suggested a limitation on dramatic oratory to save further time. He also said that representatives needed more opportunities to consult with their capitals and advisers on the many emergencies under consideration.

Christopher Klein (United States) said he looked forward to working further on all the pressing issues in September, during which his country would hold the rotating presidency. In addition to the crises already mentioned, he spoke of addressing threats to peacekeepers, the extension of the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) in the context of the Ebola health crisis and confronting the new face of terrorism, which would be addressed in a summit meeting presided over by United States President Barak Obama.

Also speaking were representatives of the Republic of Korea, Nigeria, Chile, China, Lithuania, Argentina, Luxembourg, Australia and Rwanda.

The meeting started at 3:30 p.m. and ended at 4:52 p.m.

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For information media • not an official record

For information media. Not an official record.

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